Manchester City v Chelsea Premier League Preview and Prediction

Premier League Preview for Manchester City v Chelsea along with Prediction. Included in my preview is my pick, statistical analysis for each team, recent form, and betting odds.

With Chelsea travelling to Manchester City there is a chance for the top of the table to be shaken up yet again. A win for Manchester City will keep them in first for at least another week while a win for Chelsea would see them go level with Manchester City, but could let Arsenal go top if they win earlier on the weekend. To check out the betting odds for this match, and all the other week 24 matches, head over to SportsBettingDime.com.

With their midweek 1-5 thrashing of Tottenham, Manchester City was able to overtake Arsenal for first place in the table with 53 points. Their 17th win of the season also took their goal scoring tally to 68 in the Premier League for a +42 goal difference.

Manchester City has now scored at least two goals in eight of their last nine matches in all competitions. At home this goes up to 11 out of their last 12 Premier League matches.

This season they have averaged 3 goals per game for a whopping 16% conversion rate, both of which go up to 3.8 per game and a 19% conversion rate in home matches.

While they have had some “difficulties” in defense this season in allowing 1.1 goals per game this does get better at home where they have allowed just 0.7 goals per game with a 7% conversion rate.

Manchester City are currently unbeaten in their last 12 EPL games and have lost just four matches all season to go with two draws.

The Citizens do have a few injury concerns with Samir Nasri out long term while Sergio Aguero, Javi Garcia, and James Milner will all be questionable.

Chelsea

Chelsea’s 0-0 draw at home to West Ham was very disappointing for them, but also showed their frailties in attack. While filled with numerous attacking options, they have been missing a clinical finisher to convert the dozens of chances they get each match.

This season has still been a very good one for the Blues with their 50 points this season they sit in third place with just three losses. They have also allowed the fewest goals this season giving up just 20 while scoring 43.

This season they have averaged 1.9 goals per game which drops to 1.6 on the road and a 10% conversion rate. They have allowed 1 goal per game on the road this season from 11.1 shots per game.

Chelsea look likely to be without Fernando Torres, but he is currently their only injury concern meaning they will need to rely on Samuel Eto’o for another big match against a Manchester club, that is, if Mourinho plays with a striker at all.

Prediction

This has all the makings of a classic, and yet, it has all the makings of what could be the most disappointing of all the weekend’s matches, mostly due to the dramatic buildup and whether it can live up to the hype or not.

My pick is a Manchester City win, but one that will not be easy. While Jose Mourinho complained about West Ham’s “19th Century tactics” I am predicting that he will employ a very similar tactic on Monday. Mourinho isn’t exactly known for free-flowing football and is the king of pragmatic, sit and defend football.

No doubt he will be playing mindgames in the buildup and will tout Manchester City as favorites in an attempt to give them overconfidence, but at this point the only thing Chelsea can really hope for is to sit back and defend while hoping they can score more than City.